Milling machine



. G. D. SUNDSTRAND MILLING mamas Dec. 14 ,1926. Re. 16,505

7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 7. 192* G. D. SUNDSTRAND MILLING MACHINE Dec. '14 1925. ac; 16,505

' I Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 7. 1921 Original Flled March '7. l92 1 7 sheets sheet 5 III a 7 Y wfgifid W4 aka-.4.

G. D. SUNDSTRAND Dec. 14', 1926.

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Dec. 14,1926. SUNDSTRAND 3,. 16,505 KILLING IIACHINE V 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 angina Filed March 7, 1921 MGM Ji 7 2' V I an gz z d iz'azzd rflll v MILLING MACHINE -7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Fil ed Mrch 7.

Reissued Dec. 14, 19 26.

- UNITED TATES PATENT OFFICE.- I

answer DAVID suNns rnAND, r aocnronn, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MEsrIE ASSIGNY-Q MENTS, T0 sUNnsrnaNn MACHINE r0 1.

POBATION or rumors.

00., OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A COB- MILIJNG MACHINE.

Original No. 1,511,243., dated October-'14 1924; Serial m; 450,304, filed March 7, 1921. Application for A reissue filed September 16, 1926; Serial No. 135,968.

My invention relates to milling machines and is directed chiefly to improvements in the devices for producing movements of translation between the rotating cutter and the work carrying element.

Oneobject of the invention is to arrange a control for quickly securing either a fast mot-ion, commonly known as a" traverse, or a slow motion commonly known as a feed, in

either direction In the present embodiment I accomplish this object by the use of a selective hand lever not dissimilar from that employed for controlling the speed changes in automobile transmission.

Another object is to provide either a feed vention will become apparent as the descripall) tion proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a milling machine illustrating the application of my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe same machine with the saddle clamp removed. v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of part of the transmission carried by the column.

Fig. i is an enlarged vertical section through the clutch and control lever casings.

5 a horizontal and Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the control connections associated with the selective hand lever. Fig.7 is an enlarged front'view, and Fig. 8' a plan view of the knee, saddle and table. Fig. 9 is a central section through the same parts. Figs. 10 and 111 are detail sectional views showing control mechanisms inside the knee. In the embodiment of my invention. selected for illustration I have shown the invention as applied to the well known kne e type Qfmilling ma hine cgmr singa cbluma' 10.3.

a knee 12 vertically slidable on the column, a saddle l4; slidable on the knee toward, and away from the column and a work table 16. slidable on the saddle across the face of the column. The work table is thus mounted ror movement along any one of three mutually perpendicular lines of movement.

To perform a cutting operation by means of the machine'shown, the spindle 18 must be rotated and the work table 16 moved with respect to the spindle to cause a cutting tool carried by the spindle to operate upon the Work. The spindle 18 may be driven by means of power from a suitable source illustrated as an electric motor 20 carried on a bracket 22 extending from the rear of the column and connected to the spindle by transmission including reduction gearing within a housing 24, a reversing gear within the housing 26 and speed change gears mounted in the column for transmitting power to'the spindle. vAs any one of a large number of well known devices may obviously be employed for speed reduction, for the reversing mechanism, and for the variable speed drive to the spindle, and as these'devicesin themselvesform no part of my present invention, detailed description ofv the same is deemed superfluous.

Selectioe control.

To impart the desired movement to the work table the parts supporting it are clamped against sliding movement along all lines of movement except one and power must then be transmitted to produce a feed or traverse along this last mentioned line of movement, For this purpose a vertical shaft 28 mounted on the side of the column is connected to the work supporting parts by suitable transmission devices to be described hereinafter so, as to deliver power to move the work table along any one of the lines of movement provided. For the purposelof providing either a feed or trav-. erse eitlier direction along the line of movement selcctedyl have provided means for driving the shaft. 28 in either direction.

at: either one of two. different speeds, al igh speed which may be the same at all. times, and a low speed or feed which may be varied e e a larg .n imber of d fire t lu y means of the usual or any preferred type of speed change gearing.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the shaft 28 extends upward through a casing 30 and carries two control elements in the form of splined clutch collars 32 and 34 interposed between pairs of opposed bevel gears 36 and 38, respectively. The upper pair of bevels 36 each mesh continuously with a bevel 40 mounted on a horizontal axis on a shaft 42 suitably journaled in the casing which shaft is driven from a drive shaft 44 within the column through large gear 46, intermediate gear 48 and pinion 50 On the shaft. This provides for driving shaft 28 at high speed in either direction.

To drive the shaft at low speed in either direction, the lower pair of bevels 38 mesh with bevel 52 on horizontal shaft 54 which is driven from a pinion 56 through gear and gear 60 on the shaft. .The pinion 56 may be driven at any one of a number of different speeds by means of any suitable or preferred set of change gears, and as these devices are well known in the art and the particular set of gears selected for this purpose is immaterial so far as the present invention is concerned, detailed description of the change gears is deemed superfluous.

, I have provided transmission means controlled by a single lever automatically operative to shift either one of the clutch collars into engagement with either of the bevels associated therewith but so constructed that it is impossible to provide more than one power connection to shaft 28 at any one time. These connections comprise vertical slides 62 and 64 carrying at their lower ends finger pieces 66 and 68 engaging grooves in. the splined clutch collars. Each slide is resiliently held in one of three positions by means of a. spring pressed plunger 70 (see Fig. 4) the point of which enters in one of three notches 72 in the slide. The control lever 74 is pivotally connected by a horizontal pintle 7 6 with a vertical plunger 78 slidable in bearings 80 (see 6) in a casing 82. The plunger 78 may reciprocate vertically and also rotate about its vertical axis to swing a horizontal arm 84 fixedly mounted on the plunger into notch 86 or notch 88 in the slides 64 and 62 respectively. Rotation of the plunger 78 vby means of the hand lever '74 is made possible by entering the inner end of the hand lever in a horizontal slot 90 provided between spaced lugs extending from the rear wall of the casing 82. To limit the movements of the lever 74 the front wall of the casing 82 carries a cover plate 92 cut away as clearly shown in Fig. 4. -A pin 94 carried by the lever 74 in the plane of the cover plate 92 engages the ends of centrally located projections 96 in the cover plate to prevent vertical movement of the lever when it is centrally positioned.

itself with vertical slots 98 or with vertical slots 100 in the cover plate will shift the arm into notch 86 or notch 88, respectively, to connect the control lever with slide 64 or slide 62 as the case may be. The weight of the control lever, plunger and arm is preferably approximately counterbalanced by a spring 102 so that whether the slide is to be moved up or down, the force applied by the workman need only be sufficient to overcome the holding action of the spring pressed plunger 70 to shift the slide and move the corresponding clutch collar into engagement with the bevel selected to produce the desired movement.

It will be seen that the horizontal shifting of the projecting end of the lever operates to select either the high speed or the low speed clutch at the will of the operator and that subsequent vertical displacement in either direction will operate to rotate shaft 28 at the speed selected by the first movement of the lever in the direction selected by the second movement. In use such an arrangement is even simpler than the system of control commonly employed in automobile transmissions, in that speed is selected by horizontal movement and direction by vertical movement, and that the selection of direction is the same regardless of the speed previously selected.

Transmission. to table.

The connections for transmitting power from shaft 28 to move the table 16 along any desired line of movement will next be described. Shaft 28 drives the pinion .104 which through an intermediate gear 106 and pinion 108 drives the vertical upwardly extending shaft 110 (see Fig. 3). A combined knee clamp and transmission support 112 fixedly fastened on the knee projects beside the column 10 and carries a sleeve 114 having splined engagement with shaft 110. A bevel gear 116 on sleeve 114 and a bevel gear 118 transmit the power to a horizontal shaft 120 extending forwardly past the plane of the front of the column, and carrying at its front end a pinion 122. An intermediate pinion 124 driven from the pinion 122, meshes. with a gear 126 having splined engagement with a drive shaft 128 for the table feed.

From the gear 126 another intermediate gear 130 (see Fig. 8) transmits power to gear 132 on the high speed shaft 134 carried by the knee. A splined clutch 136 on the high speed shaft 134 may be moved into engagement-with a sleeve 138 rotatable on the shaft 134. the end of which sleeve is cut to form a pinion meshing with gear 140.

ma y; l e s dj n the nee-.1 spl ndb the vslow;speed transmission shaft 142;i s a s leeve 214 ca yi g-Se ms etbo h nds-- I-B li n the sleeve to the left from the position shown inFig. 9,- ear 146'1nay be moviedinto mesh with pinion 148 on sleevel todrive the ve a c ew 152 hre sh b r l i and 156 for raisin g and lowering the knee. Thescrew 152 enters/the usual nut 158 carried by the base of the column 1Qfor this purpose. By sliding the sleeve in the other direction gear 160 may be moved-into'inesh with gear 162 on'the, saddle feedscrew 164 which engages a nut 16 6 carried by the saddle to move .the saddle toward and away from the column. p For controlling the clutch 136 I employ a shaft168 (Fig. 10) extending transversely through-the knee, carrying an 170 e n gaging. the clutch for shifting the same'and operated by means of asuitable handle 172. For controlling the. distribution sleeve 144 I employanother shatt l74 (Fig. 10) .carryingajshort' crank 176 at its i-nner endand operated by means ofa crank 178 at-its outer n o T us fety. me ns ay ef mp y' to prevent the workman from moving the knee or the saddlebeyond their proper limits offtravel .in either direction. I have illustrated a I, bell crank lever 180 rotatably mounted on shaft-174'one arm of which engages a -plunger 182 actuated. by stops 184 on the column (see'Fig. 8) when theknee has reached'zits'limit of moyement ineith er direction. The otherarm .of the bellhcrank element is connected 'toa 'vertical plunger 186, vertical plunger; also engages a crank 188 keyed on shaft .168 and will be operated by contact with suitable stops 1 89 (see 7)fon the saddle when the'saddle has reached its limit of movement in either direction. It will be seen that operation of either plunger 182 .or plunger 186 wi1l rotate shaft- .168 and throw out clutch 136.

H have illustrated a suitable transmission to the table 16 from shaft 128, comprisinga bevel' gear 190. (see-Fig. 7) on thefend of shaft 128 meshing with a betel 192 on a vertical shaft 194 which carries a pinion 196 driving an intermediate. gear 198 and a drive gear 200 centrally located under I A casing 202 depending from the saddle supports bevel gears 190; and

; 192, land "the splined connection between sh t .128 and g a 4.12s pe il ts ainem nt o th ad e (wi hou nter en withthe transmission ofpower-to the table.

A have m ee. i ie.asgine s withor perm anently fastened tothe gear 2 O0 and m eshes with ,a bevel i204 carried by a sle ve12 0 c n entr wit t are e He table feed" screw may be moved iii'to enthe column. I

tachn ent securing support at points spaced screw, which" sciewgengagesfa ffiiied 212 (see Fig. 7 andfeeds the table. A suitable throw-out device is provi'ded comprising a plunger 214 havinga rack cut on one side engaging a pinion 215 formed on the shaft 216 which controls the clutch collar 210. Stops 5218 are carried by thelfront edge of the table and will depress the plunger upon movement past the same in either direction to rotate shatt216 and throw out the clutch. 2l9 is a hand lever on the shaft 216 for manually starting" and stopping the table.

7 H and feed.

. Manual means has been provided for inov ing the table along any one of its three lines of movement-co m-prising handles 220 carried by the table feed screw 208,.a squared end 222 projectingfrom the saddle feedscrew 164, and a shaft. 224 carrying a bevel'226 meshing with-the bevel gear 156 for manual operation of'the screw 152, said shaft having a square end 228 adapted-t0 be engaged aconsiderable distance from the plane 01 the front of tllQCOlllIHIl materiallycontributes to the rigidity with which the table may be supported. The ways carried by the column project outwardly as shown'in Fig. 8, the configuration of parts being such that none of there-entrant angles on the outside of the column are closed either by the column itself or by'the clamping means so as to form a pocket in which dirt might collect. [Iheknee is also clamped to its own ways 234 as iisual, as by means of blocks 236 drawn into gripping engagement with the waysby handles1238.

a The rigidity of the table support is fun therincreased by the use of means for clamping the saddle to the knee. Said means comprises a bracket 240 (see Fig. 1)

to the casin-gr112'by engagement in a T-slot 244 (see Fig. 2}.

A casing see 3) is conveniently m nt-ed. i outiot he my p t o a driven by'shaft-248 and gear 250 meshing with pinion 50. By this means coolant for the cutter-may be supplied through any suitable set of conducting pipes.

0 pemitz'on.

In performing work on my improved machine, after the work has been clamped in place on the table 16, the motor 20 may be started. The knee may then be raised or lowered to bring the table to the desired height by operating the lever 74, the selecting crank 178 to shift the distribution sleeve 1 14:, and the power-controlling lever 172 to shift the clutch 136. The knee may be moved in either direction by power at a fairly high speed until it is nearly in the proper position and subsequently at a much lower speed until the final position is still more nearly approximated. These adjustments are effected by means of lever '74. 'For final adj ustment with great precision, lever 74: may be shifted to neutral and the manual ad justing means employed by applying a crank to the shaft-end 228. The knee is then clamped rigidly to the column both by its own clamping means and by clamping casing 112 to the side of the column.

The saddle may next be similarly adjusted by operating the crank 17 8 to shift the sleeve in to drive the saddle feed screw 16 i and in making this adjustment also two speeds of power movement in either direction are available, after which precise adjustment may be accomplished manually by applying a crank to the shaft-end 222.

After these two adjustments are made, the work is ordinarily ready to be moved past the cutter. Upon connecting the trans mission through shaft 110 to table 16 by operating the lever 219 two speeds of power feed controlled by lever 74 for moving the table in either direction are immediately available. The workman may stand with his right hand on lever 7 1 in a position facing toward the work so as to conveniently observe the operation, or ifthe rear vertical surfaceof the work is being machined, he may lean across the table with his left hand on lever 7%. i

In case the work tobe placed on table 16 is unusually heavy the knee or saddle or both may be adjusted to their final po sitions and clamped in place before the work is placed on the table by means of the crane or derrick usually employed to handle heavy pieces of work. This will avoid clamping the knee in the distorted position produced by imposing the weight of the work on the guideways for the knee without further support, thus securing better alinement of the parts and greater accuracy in the finished work.

While I have illustrated and described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be clearly understood that the disclosure is merely for purposes of illustration and that many modifications and variations will naturally occur to those skilled in the art. I aim in'the subjoined claims to cover all such legitimate variations and modifications.

7 I claim as my invention:

1. A machine tool having, in combination, a column, a movable element carried by said column and mounted for movement along any one of three mutually perpendicular lines of movement, means for preventing said element from moving in two of said lines while leaving it free to move in the remaining line, a control lever near the top the column in a position to be readily grasped by the raised right hand of the workman, or by his raised left hand in case he leans over the work, power transmission for moving said elements, connections between said control lever and power transmission operative to effect movement of said element in either of two directions at either of two speeds along the line of motion selected, means to counterbalance the weight of the lever and associated partsto hold it in neutral equilibrium when not operated by the workman, and means for retaining it in any position to which it is moved by the Workman.

2. A milling machine having, in combination, a column, a work table positioned in front of said column, power transmission for moving said table, a control lever near the top of the column projecting forwardlv to a position over the work, and connections between said control leverand said power transmission whereby movement of said lever in one plane operates to select the speed of movement of the table without accomplishing the actual driving. connection to produce such movement and subsequent movement of the lever in another plane operates to select the direction of movement of the table, such subsequent movement accomplishing the driving connections.

3. A machine tool having, in combination, a column, a niovableelement carried by said column and mounted for movement along any one of three mutually perpendicular lines of movement, a control lever near the top of the column in a position to be readily grasped by the workn'ian, power transmission for moving said table including two constantly driven shafts and a third shaftv carried bv the column, and means operable by said control lever to connect either of said two shafts with the third shaft whereby to effect movement of said table in either of two directions at-jeither of two speeds along the line of motion selected, I

4;. A milling machinehaving, in combina tion, a. column," a work table positioned in front of said column, power transmission for moving aid ta l a ontr lever near the top of the column projecting forwardly to a position over the work, connections between said control lever and said power crates to selectthe direction of movement of the table, and means constraining the lever to move from its neutral position in the first mentioned plane only, and permit ting movement in the second mentioned plane after a predetermined amount of movement in the first mentioned plane.

a 5. In a milling machine, a work-table, a column, means on the column for supporting said table for movement in any one of three mutually perpendicular lines of movement, power transmission formoving said table including a. shaft mounted on the column, drive means, and means includinga single control element also mounted on thecoluinn and operable toefiect a connection between said drive means and said shaft whereby to cause the table to. move along, the line. selected in either direction at either one of two different speeds, a fast speed which is always the same for any given line ofymovement and a slow speed adjustable by i-tlie operator ,to any one of a number of values for each line of movement.

6. In a machine to'ohin combination, va movable element, power transmission for effecting movement of said element, a single control lever, and connections between said control lever and said power transmission whereby movement of the lever in one plane selects the speed of movement of the movable element without completing the actual driving connections therefor and subsequent movement of the lever in another plane selects the direction of movement and com pletes the driving connections.

7 A machine tool having, in combination, a movable element, a distributing transmission for deliveringpower to said element to move it in any one of a plurality o'f three mutually perpendicular lines of motion, a shaft connected to said distributing transmission to deliver power thereto, and a selective control lever for driving said shaft in either direction at either of two rates of speed.

8. In a milling .machine, a work table, means for supportingsaid work table for movement in any one of three mutually perpendicular lines ofmo'vemenQ-and a single controlelement operable to effect movement of said table along the line selected inueither direction at either one of two different speeds.

9. In amachine tool, incombination, a movable element, power transmission for effecting movement of said element, a single control lever capable of two different kinds of movement, and connections between said control lever and said power transmission whereby one inovement'of the lever selects the speed of movement of the movable element and'the other movement of the lever selects the direction'of movement ofthe element, said connections insuring that one movement is absolutely completed before the other can occur, a

10, A machine tool having, in combination, a movable element, a distributingtra'nsmission for delivering power to said element to move it in any one of a'plurality of three mutually perpendicular lines of motion, a shaft connected to said distributing transmission to deliver power thereto, and means for driving said shaft in either direction at either of two rates of speed said means com-' prisinga selective control lever and connections whereby movement of said lever in a horizontalplane operates to select the speed of the shaftand subsequent movement in a vertical plane operates to select the direction of'rotationof the shaft:

11. A milling machine having, in 'co'mbi-na tion, a column, a work table positionedin front of said column, power transmissionfor mo'vingfsaid table, a control lever near the top of the column projecting, forwardly to a position over the. work table; said power transmission including a pair of control elements mounted on the column, and connections between said control lever and said'elements including a pair ofniembers operatively assoc-iatedwith said lever whereby movement of said lever in one plane oper ates to select the speed of movement of the table and subsequent movemeht of, the lever in another plane operates to select the direction of m'ovement of the table.

12. A milling machine having; in c'ombiha tion, a column,'a work table mounted for movement in front of said column, power transmission for moving said table including a pair of control elements, a control lever near the top of the column projecting forwardly to a position over'the table; and con-- nections between said control lever and said elements whereby to effect the movement of. the table by saidpower transmission, said connections including a pair of members con nected respectively'with said two control elements, and means operable in the move ment of said lever in one plane to effect a conn ection between the lever and one or the other of said members and operable in the movement of the lever in another plane to actuate such selected member and thereby its corresponding control element;

1-3. A machine tool having,- in combination,-a movable element, a distributingtransmission to deliver power thereto, and means for driving said shaft in either directionat either of two rates of speed.

14. In a machine tool, the combination of amovable element, power transmission for effecting movement of said element, a single control lever, and Connectionsbetween said control lever and said power transmission whereby movement of the lever in one plane selects the speed of movement of the movable element and movement in the other plane selects the direction of movement, said connections including a pair of spaced members having oppositely disposed notches therein, and a partoperable by said lever into engagement with either of said notches whereby to connect the corresponding memher with the control lever.

15. In a machine tool, in combination, a movable element, power transmision for effecting movement of said element, a single control lever capable of movement only in a single plane initially and subsequently in another plane, and connections between said control lever and said power transmission whereby movement of the lever in one plane selects the speed of movement of the movable element and movement in the other plane selects the direction of movement.

16. In a milling machine, the combination of a table, power transmission for moving said table including a pair of control elements, means providing a closed chamber near the topof the column at one side thereof, a control lever mounted in said chamber for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane and in a vertical plane, a casing mounted on the column below said chamber, said power transmission being mounted in said casing, and means connecting said control elements with said lever including a pair of slide bars and a part operable in the movement of said lever to effect a connection between it and either one of said slide bars.

17. A milling machine having, in com bination, a column, a work table positioned in front of said column, a power transmission for moving said table, a control lever, and a connection between said control lever and said power transmission whereby an initial movement of said lever operates to select the speed of movement to be imparted to the table without accomplishing the ac tual driving connection to produce such movement and a subsequent movement of the lever operates to connect the transmission to move the table at the selected speed in either of two opposite directions.

18. A machine tool having, in combination, a column, a movable element carried by said column and mounted for movement along either of two mutually perpendicular lines of movement, a control lever having one end thereof mountedupon said column, power transmission moving said table includline of movement selected.

19. A milling machine having, in combination, a column, a work table positioned in front of said column, power transmission for moving said table, a control lever, a connection between said control lever and said power transmission whereby an initial movement of said lever operates to select the speed of movement of the table and a subsequent movement of the lever operates to close said transmission to move the table, and means constraining the lever from moving initially from its neutral position and permitting said subsequent movement after said initial movement.

20. In a machine of the characterdescribed, the combination of a column, a work support movably mounted thereon, a feed drive shaft and a traverse drive shaft rotatably mounted upon the column, and transmission means adapted to connect either of said shafts to actuate said work support including a single shaft mounted on the col-- umn and means adapted to connect said shaft to either of said drive shafts to derive motion therefrom in either of two directions,

21. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a column, a work support movably mounted thereon, feed and traverse drive shafts mounted on said column, transmission means between said drive shafts and said work support including a single shaft, and a pair of reversing clutch devices adapted to connect said single shaft to either of said drive shafts, and means to operate said clutch devices adapted first to select one of said clutches and then to operate the clutch selected.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a column, a work support movably mounted thereon, parallel feed and traverse drive shafts rotatably mounted on said column, a power transmission adapted to operate said work support including a shaft perpendicular to said drive shafts and adapted to be connected alternately thereto, and means adapted to connect either of said drive shafts to said trans mission.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a column, a work support movably mounted thereon, feed and traverse drive shafts rotatably mounted on said column, a single power transmission connected to said work support, means adapted to connect said drive shafts alternately to said transmission including a reversing clutch device between each drive shaft and said transmission, and a control llU element adapted to select and actuate said clutch devices. 7

24. A machine tool comprising, in combination, a. support, an elementmovable transversely on said support, power transmission to move said element in opposite directions at feed and traverse speeds, and a lever adapted to control said transmission, said lever having a portion confined in an H slot andbeing movable in the cross portion of the slot Without effecting a connection in said transmission and being movable in the parallel slots to efl'ect connections in said transmission.

25. A machine tool comprising, in combination, a support, an element mounted for movement transversely in front of said support, power transmission to move said ele ment in forward and reverse directions and at feed and traverse speeds, and a lever to control said transmission, said lever having a portion intermediate its ends movable in an H slot.

26. A machine tool comprising, in combination, a support, an element mounted for movement transversely in front of said sup port, power transmission to move said element at feed and traverse speeds, and a lever to control said transmission, said lever having a portion intermediate its ends movable in an H slot.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GUSTAF DAVID SUN DSTRAND. 

